8 Oct 2026
Job Information
- Organisation/Company: University of Stavanger
- Department: Department of Safety, Economics, and Planning
- Research Field: Other
- Researcher Profile: First Stage Researcher (R1)
- Positions: PhD Positions
- Application Deadline: 18 Nov 2026 - 23:59 (Europe/Oslo)
- Country: Norway
- Type of Contract: Temporary
- Job Status: Full-time
- Is the job funded through the EU Research Framework Programme? Other EU programme
- Is the Job related to staff position within a Research Infrastructure? No
Offer Description
The University of Stavanger invites applicants for two vacant position as PhD Fellow in Public safety, Underground applications and Spatial analysis at the Faculty of Science and Technology, Department of Safety, Economics, and Planning.
The PhD fellowship leads to a doctoral degree and gives you the opportunity to develop research expertise in an active and stimulating academic environment. Through the doctoral education, you will acquire knowledge, skills and experience that qualify you for a further career in research, higher education, and other knowledge-intensive sectors.t.
The successful candidate will be admitted to the PhD programme in Science and Technology. The programme includes coursework, an independent research project culminating in a doctoral thesis, participation in national and international research communities, dissemination of research, a trial lecture, and a public defence of the thesis. For more information about the PhD education at UiS, please visit our website.
The position is for three years of pure research training.
As a PhD Fellow at UiS, you will receive supervision and support for your academic and professional development through mentoring, skills development, and career planning.
The position is externally funded by The Research Council of Norway.
Research Topic
The fellows will be affiliated with the Research Centre for Innovative and Sustainable Underground Use (CISU), a Centre for Research-Driven Innovation (SFI) funded by the Research Council of Norway. CISU is a triple helix collaboration between leading research institutions, industry partners and public sector organisations, and addresses pressing societal challenges: urban densification, climate change, geopolitical instability and the need for more resilient cities.
The core task of this position is mapping and analysis of the underground in one of the pilot cities — Stavanger and Trondheim, as well as Tromsø — using geographic information science as the primary methodological basis. The projects are located in Trondheim or Stavanger (one in each city), and are responsible for mapping their respective cities, and the projects collaborate on mapping Tromsø. In this way, case studies are established that will provide both opportunities for comparative analyses and more uniform analyses of the pilot cities based on the cities’ data material related to critical societal functions. The students will work closely with the cities. Existing data material, such as GIS maps and databases, geological data (soil, rocks and groundwater), existing infrastructures and critical societal functions, relevant events, etc., will be systematically analysed, expanded, further developed, integrated and assessed against the cities' planning values and opportunities for moving functions underground. The work may also use complementary spatial technologies such as digital twins, photogrammetry and spatial modelling.
Based on this GIS foundation, the candidates will continuously participate in co-creation arenas with the user partners in CISU to develop research directions within the CISU context.
The candidates' parallel projects enable direct comparison and knowledge transfer across urban contexts. Both candidates will be part of SFI-CISU, which during the centre period will have at least 13 PhD fellows working on innovation projects across the three pilot cities, with support from a dedicated PhD forum in SFI-CISU and an interdisciplinary supervision team from academia and industry. There are opportunities for international research stays and collaborations as part of the PhD study (some alternative locations are Singapore, Helsinki and Switzerland).
The fellows will contribute to answering the following preliminary research questions in the centre:
- RQ1: To what extent are the precise locations and technical condition of existing underground infrastructure known?
- RQ2: To what extent can transformation of existing infrastructure support critical societal functions in the future?
- RQ3: To what extent can systematic use of the underground support sustainable urban development in the zero-emission society?
- RQ4: How can underground spatial planning be integrated into urban development and infrastructure strategies?
Where to apply
Requirements
Research Field: Other
Education Level: Master Degree or equivalent
Skills/Qualifications
Qualifications
You must have a strong academic background with a five-year master's degree in Geographic Information, Risk Management, Societal Safety, Urban Planning, or related field, or equivalent qualifications that provide a basis for undertaking doctoral studies, preferably obtained recently. If you are completing your master's degree in spring 2027, you are also welcome to apply.
Your master's thesis grade and weighted average grade for the master's degree must both correspond to a grade of B or better. If you have completed your education at an institution that uses a grading scale other than A-F, please provide documentation explaining how your grades correspond to the Norwegian grading scale. You may use these conversion tables to calculate your admission score.
It is an advantage if you have:
- theoretical and applied knowledge of geographic information science and spatial analysis
- experience or professional knowledge of Norwegian planning systems (urban municipalities)
- experience with GIS tools and software, and with digital spatial technologies
We will also place emphasis on whether you:
- demonstrate high academic integrity and a strong commitment to quality in your work
- are curious and motivated to carry out the research project and contribute to academic communities and collaboration across disciplines
- demontrate potential for research within the field, as well as the personal qualities required to complete the doctoral programme within the period of employment
- are able to work effectively both independently and in collaboration with other researchers
- demonstrate the ability for critical reflection, innovative thinking, and independent problem-solving, and work in a structured and goal-oriented manner
- have strong interpersonal and communication skills and contribute to a constructive working environment
- have good English language skills, both written and spoken
Work carried out within SFI-CISU may involve access to classified information. To be eligible for this position, you must therefore be able to obtain authorization at the RESTRICTED(BEGRENSET) level in accordance with Section 8-9 of the Norwegian Security Act (sikkerhetsloven). Authorization requires that you meet the conditions for access to classified information at this level. Further guidelines will be provided as the centre is established and its activities are further defined.
English Language Requirements
Proficiency in English, both written and spoken, is required for admission to the PhD programme.
International applicants who do not qualify for one of the exemptions listed below must document their English language proficiency by submitting a valid test result from one of the following tests:
- TOEFL iBT (Test of English as a Foreign Language): minimum score of 90/4.5
- IELTS Academic (International English Language Testing System): minimum score of 6.5
- Cambridge English: Certificate in Advanced English (CAE) or Certificate of Proficiency in English (CPE)
- PTE Academic (Pearson Test of English Academic): minimum score of 62
You are exempt from this requirement if you:
- have completed at least one year of university studies in Australia, Canada, Ireland, New Zealand, the United Kingdom or the United States
- have completed a master's degree taught in English in an EU/EEA country or in India
- qualify for an exemption according to the Norwegian Directorate for Higher Education and Skills (HK-dir) GSU list
- do not fall within any of the exemption categories listed above, but have resided in Norway for the past five years.
Languages: ENGLISH
Level: Good
Research Field: Other
Additional Information
Benefits
As a PhD Fellow at UiS, you will receive
- a PhD education at a university with a strong societal mission and ambitious academic goals
- an ambitious and inclusive research environment. We strive to include employees at all levels in strategic decisions and promote an informal atmosphere with a flat organisational structure.
- free Norwegian language courses if you do not have proficiency in Norwegian, Swedish, or Danish at level A2 at the time of employment.
- access to Lifekeys, a digital service that supports mental health and well-being
- salary in accordance with the State Salary Scale, code 1017, NOK 580.000 gross per year, with salary progression during the employment period. A statutory 2% contribution is deducted for membership in the Norwegian Public Service Pension Fund.
- automatic membership in the Norwegian Public Service Pension Fund, providing favourable pension and insurance benefits
- favourable membership terms at a gym and at the SIS sports club on campus
- discounted public transport through the "Hjem-jobb-hjem" programme
- access to Norway's public welfare system, including parental leave benefits, healthcare services and affordable childcare
- support through relocation programme for international employees
Diversity and Inclusion
Diversity is a strength at the University of Stavanger. Different experiences, perspectives and backgrounds contribute to better solutions and a positive working and learning environment. We welcome applicants with diverse qualifications, life experiences and perspectives, and encourage all qualified candidates to apply, regardless of gender, age, disability, cultural background, or whether they have experienced periods outside the workforce. UiS is committed to supporting employees in different stages of life and to providing reasonable accommodation for employees with individual needs.
In accordance with applicable regulations, at least one qualified applicant with a disability, a gap in their CV, or an immigrant background will be invited for an interview. If this applies to you, you may indicate this in the application portal. Read more about the scheme here.
The University seeks to improve gender balance in PhD positions within this field and therefore particularly encourages women to apply. In cases where applicants are considered equally qualified, women may be given preference in accordance with applicable regulations.
Selection process
How to Apply
Apply for the position through the "Apply for this job" button on this page.
In Jobbnorge, you must register your application, relevant education and work experience, as well as language skills. In your application letter, please describe your research interests, your motivation for applying for the position, and how your background is relevant to the research project.
The following documentation must be uploaded as attachments to your application:
- project proposal
- CV with a complete overview of your education, experience, and any scientific or scholarly work
- diploma and transcript of records documenting completion of a master's degree. If you have not yet completed your master's degree, you must submit an up-to-date transcript of records
- Diploma Supplement or equivalent documentation, and a confirmed grade conversion scale if required
- documentation of English language proficiency, if required
- publications or other relevant research work
- references and other documentation considered relevant to the application
The documentation must be available in either a Scandinavian language or in English
Applications will be assessed based on the information available in Jobbnorge at the application deadline. Please ensure that your application clearly demonstrates how your qualifications and experience meet the requirements described in the advertisement and that all required documentation has been uploaded. If the total size of the attachments exceeds 100 MB, the files must be compressed before uploading.
UiS only considers applications and attachments submitted through Jobbnorge.
Information about applicants may be made public even if an applicant has requested not to be included on the public list of applicants, cf. Section 25 of the Freedom of Information Ac. If such a request is not granted, the applicant will be notified accordingly.
Website for additional job details: https://www.jobbnorge.no/en/available-jobs/job/308036/phd-fellowship-in-public-safety-underground-applications-and-spatial-analysis
Work Location(s)
Number of offers available: 1
Company/Institute: University of Stavanger, Faculty of Social Studies, Faculty of Science and Technology
Country: Norway
State/Province: Rogaland
City: Stavanger
Postal Code: 4021
Street: Kjell Arholmsgate 41
Contact
State/Province: Rogaland
City: STAVANGER
Website: http://www.uis.no
Street: Kjell Arholmsgate 41
Postal Code: 4021
E-Mail: [contact details available in the full listing]
